Over the June Bank Holiday weekend Spa GAA Club hosted our first ever Killarney Club 7s fundraising event.
With months of preparation, and incredible support and help from the local community, as well as a gigantic effort from our wonderful volunteers, the club welcomed thousands of people from across Ireland and beyond to Spa GAA Club over the two days.
The 7-a-side games were played across two playing pitches, alternating throughout the weekend between ladies and mens fixtures on each field. First round games began early on Saturday morning and were run off in group stages, with teams progressing to the Sunday knock-out stages. The quarter finals began on Sunday morning and as the day progressed, the finalists were soon decided.
In the Ladies competition, Southern Gaels LGFA defeated Castlemahon Feohanagh LGFA in the Shield Final while it was an all-Cork affair in the Cup Final as Clonakilty LGFA defeated Valley Rovers LGFA. In the Mens competition, Dublin teams Cuala GAA and Lucan Sarsfields GAA met in the Shield Final with Cuala coming out on top, and in the Cup Final, Mitchelstown GAA edged out Eire Óg.
Well done to all teams, players, mentors and supporters who travelled to Spa and took part. Our thanks also to the GAA and LGFA referees who officiated over the weekend – Brendan Griffin, Seamus Mulvihill, Grainne Sands, Ciara Gilroy, Eddie Walsh and Padraig O’Sullivan.
As well as the tournament on the two playing pitches, there were food vendors set up with a selection of hot and cold foods and the outdoor seating area soon filled. There was also a kids play area with inflatables, tattoos, different games and a tug-of-war rope.
The Rockshore marquee was rocking both days with the live music starting from 12noon each day and finishing at 10pm with a DJ both nights. Acts over the weekend included Super Céilí, The Rising, Derry & Rosie, Brian Murphy and The Stars. Our own Spa GAA juvenile set dancers also took to the stage on Saturday afternoon.
The support from near and far has been incredible, and huge credit to our volunteers and the support of the local community. With the event itself taking months of planning, over the past number of weeks the effort to get the club and grounds ready to host thousands of people over the weekend has been monumental. Míle Buíochas to the amazing hard working committee who organised the Rockshore Killarney Club 7s tournament - Shane Cronin, Conor Gleeson, Michael O’Donoghue, Andrew Garnett, Evan Cronin, Cian Tobin, Ivor Flynn, Katie Gleeson and Deirdre O’Sullivan Darcy. They spearheaded this super event and brought the whole community together with hundreds of volunteers, enabling it to take place.
Special thanks to all our sponsors who came on board supported this event in so many different ways. Without them, this would not have been possible.
Thanks to everyone who participated, supported, sponsored, volunteered or donated to make this fundraiser possible for our great club. A huge thank you to one and all, roll on next year!
Photos: Anne Holland
